Chapter 21

The older woman chuckled good-naturedly, “Yes, yes, you’re the model soldier’s wife with all the awareness. I’ll stop talking now, okay? Anyway, just don’t get too close to that Tian Li, alright, Nian Nian?”

In their eyes, Su Nian was a sensible, hardworking girl. They genuinely hoped she’d do well here.

Su Nian pulled out six White Rabbit milk candies from her pocket. “Here, big sisters, share these. I just got here and don’t know much. Thanks for being patient and not minding how slow I am.”

Yang Jie looked a little embarrassed, but Su Nian directly shoved the candy into their hands.

“Just take it. I know it’s not easy to get things like this even if you have money. I brought a bunch with me when I came. Consider it a little gift for meeting you. Go on, take it.”

The older sister was a straightforward type—she immediately tucked the candy into her pocket.

“Thanks, Nian Nian. My kid’s been wanting candy for ages, but we don’t have enough ration coupons. I send most of them back to my in-laws. Around here, anyone with something good usually sends it straight home.”

Yang Jie reluctantly accepted as well.

“Alright, just this once. Don’t make it a habit. I’ll bring you a couple of homegrown tomatoes to try. They’re really delicious.”

Su Nian didn’t need them for skin whitening or anything, but the tomatoes here were organic and packed with nutrients. Natural vitamins were always good!

“Yang Jie, actually, I wanted to ask for your help with something.”

“I don’t know how to pickle vegetables, but I really like eating them. Do you know anyone who’s good at it? I’d love to trade for some.”

Su Nian didn’t particularly like the food from the cafeteria and sometimes secretly ate from the stash in her space. She still had plenty of pre-packed meals stored up, but something always felt missing during meals.

The older sister lit up. “Then you’re asking the right person! Yang Jie here used to work at the pickle factory back in our commune. If it weren’t for transferring with my husband, I’d still be there. She’s made a bunch!”

“She sometimes takes some rice from the cafeteria to eat with pickles back home. You can definitely trade with her.”

That’s when Su Nian realized: they didn’t have to eat at the cafeteria—they could pack food in lunchboxes and bring it home.

Yang Jie added before Su Nian could even speak, “Tonight I’ll bring you a few different kinds to try. Let me know which one you like. We’ll talk about what to trade after that.”

It was clear that Yang Jie needed something, but not money.

“Sure! Just tell me what you need. If I have it, I’ll trade for it.”

At lunch, Su Nian, now considered an internal staff member, got to eat early. By the time the others showed up, she was already heading off to rest.

She looked at the group of fellow educated youth who had been so energetic just yesterday. Now, they were all slouching and tired-looking after just one morning.

Su Nian felt lucky. Maybe she was a chosen one—ever since she transmigrated, everything had turned in her favor.

Her countryside placement got switched to a military regiment, and she met Fu Tingchuan.

The only pity was that she couldn’t remember the rest of the plot—not even much of what came before. All she really remembered from the original host’s memory was that Fu Tingchuan would die soon.

But she couldn’t recall the exact timing.

At first, she worried about it. But eventually, she figured—maybe it was just a bug. Since she was here now, she might as well make the best of it.

From a distance, she saw Fu Tingchuan waving at her. She packed up her lunchbox and walked over obediently.

“It’s not even the day I start working for you yet, Fu Tuanzhang. What do you need me for?”

“You’ve started picking up Northeast dialect here and there—it’s sounding pretty natural now.”

“I went out this morning and picked up your luggage while I was at it. Your dad must be very worried—he practically moved the whole house here for you!”

When Su Nian sent the packages originally, she had only packed a few essentials.

But Su Da Qiang, feeling guilty, had opened them and found she didn’t bring much. Overwhelmed with remorse, he secretly bought and packed more supplies.

She thought Fu Tingchuan was exaggerating—until she saw the bags. She was stunned.

“This… if you’re sure you didn’t grab the wrong ones, then I guess my dad secretly added more. I didn’t know he packed so much. Thanks, Uncle Xiao.”

Every time Su Nian called him that, Fu Tingchuan felt a little guilty.

“How many times have I told you not to call me that? Just use my name. I’m only nine years older than you. What—if we get married, are you still going to call me uncle?”

“Or is it that you still haven’t let go of Fu Mingjun and just want to stay in his generation?”

Su Nian had only been teasing him, hoping to see him flustered. She didn’t expect him to misunderstand.

“I absolutely haven’t! Why would I hang on to someone I’ve already tossed away? I won’t call you that again then. Uh… Tingchuan?”

It was the first time the little girl had called his name, and he found it surprisingly pleasant.

“Mm, sounds nice. Say it more often.” He couldn’t stop grinning, even if he tried.

Seeing him like this, Su Nian felt secretly triumphant. For someone his age, this old bachelor sure was sly. One step at a time, he’d managed to lead her into calling herself his wife.

“Alright already, stop grinning. Help me move this stuff—it’s heavy and I can’t carry it alone.”

After he dropped off her things, Fu Tingchuan seemed reluctant to leave. “I have a task the next few days, might be away for a bit. Take care of yourself. If you miss me…”

He pulled out his old work ID.

“There’s a photo of me on here. Take a look at it now and then—it’s got benefits. Looks way better than those young brats, doesn’t it?”

Su Nian was puzzled. “Young brats? Who are you talking about?”

Fu Tingchuan turned away so she couldn’t see his face. “Who? You tell me. The one who fussed until someone helped you onto the truck the other day. The one who made sure to sit next to you at lunch the day before yesterday, maybe?”

“Ha! Ha! Ha! Fu Tingchuan, you jealous bastard!”

Su Nian never thought Fu Tingchuan would get jealous—of Shen Mo, no less. She hadn’t even interacted with him alone before.

Even at mealtime, it was always with Ji Lin and Xu Zhaodi, and lately, mostly with the older ladies.

“Shen Mo and I are absolutely impossible, okay? Don’t overthink it. But Tingchuan, you’re almost thirty and still this clingy—don’t you feel embarrassed?”

Fu Tingchuan corrected her righteously, “I’m twenty-seven. Not thirty yet!”

Yeah, twenty-seven. He’d never felt old before—but compared to this just-turned-eighteen girl, he really was getting up there.

Nine years was a big age gap—a real chasm.

But so what?

Fu Tingchuan wasn’t one to be stopped by obstacles. Even if it were the Grand Canal instead of a gap, he’d fill it in.

Sure, she liked calling him “Uncle Xiao,” but he could tell Su Nian didn’t really think he was too old.

If Su Nian knew what he was thinking, she’d probably tell him: it’s because their ages are similar.

Before she transmigrated, Su Nian had also drifted through twenty-something years and just graduated from university. The actual age difference between them was only three years—just right for a relationship.

Now, dating a real eighteen- or nineteen-year-old guy would make her feel like a criminal.

“Alright, Tingchuan. Go do your tasks. I’ve got stuff to sort through. This place is so small, you standing there is blocking all the light!”